“Croatia – 20 years in the UN”

The exhibition is divided into three thematic parts and includes photographs from the period of joining the UN by the acclamation, on 22 May 1992, in the Assembly of the United Nations, then the involvement of the UN in Croatia during the Homeland War, and the involvement of the Croatian Armed Forces in UN missions. All three themes are shown in the photographic material, while the involvement of UN forces in Croatia, as well as former CAF involvement in UN missions, have been also shown through a variety of subjects related to these topics and through videos.

The official opening of the exhibition was attended by Deputy Defence Minister Višnja Tafra, Coordinator of the United Nations and Permanent Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to Croatia, Louisa Vinton, Deputy Chief of General Staff, Rear Admiral Zdenko Simičić, Commander of the Army Major General Dragutin Repinc , representatives of the Military and Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of Croatia, representatives of state administration, as well as other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces.

During the opening ceremony, the Commander of the Army, Major General Dragutin Repinc recalled that Croatia has started its participation in international peacekeeping operations in September 1999 with the inclusion of 10 officers of the Armed Forces in the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL). By this Croatia became a part of the club within the United Nations which contribute to the preservation of global peace and security and send their members of the armed forces and other personnel to peacekeeping missions in crisis areas.

“Since 1999 until today, more than 1300 members of the Armed Forces participated in 19 UN peacekeeping missions”, General Repinc said, emphasizing their high professionalism and expertise in performing the duty of UN observers. He noted that CAF regularly receive compliments from the other UN members.

The exhibition was opened by Deputy Defence Minister Višnja Tafra, who, in his address, also emphasized the importance of participation of CAF members in the UN missions around the world, by which the Republic of Croatia in the twenty years moved from the recipient of the UN troops to an active contributor of troops for peace support, adding that at present, in 7 United Nations peacekeeping missions, 119 CAF members have been involved.

Besides the members of the Armed Forces in UN peacekeeping operations during the past years, members of the civilian police, diplomatic staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and members of relevant ministries, such as, for example, from the Ministry of Justice, have been also participating in the UN missions.

The exhibition is opened until 15 June 2012 in “Zvonimir” Gallery from Monday to Friday from 10 to 18 hours. Free admission.

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